Page 162 of Shadowed Hearts: Frost
No self-consciousness in her voice. She seems pleased by my attention.
"Hard not to. You're beautiful." The words escape before I can stop them, honest and unfiltered.
Her cheeks flush pink, matching the streaks in her hair, and she moves closer, standing between my spread knees. Her hands rest on my shoulders, the slight tremor in her fingers revealing nerves mixing with excitement.
"I've never done this before," she admits. "Been in control, I mean."
The confession makes my chest tight. She's trusting me with this, just as I'm trusting her.
"And I've never given up control." My hands find her waist, thumbs stroking smooth skin just above her leggings. "And yet here we are."
She leans down and kisses me, soft and sweet at first, then deeper as her confidence builds. Her hands tangle in my hair, and I let her control the pace, the angle, the intensity.
It's terrifying and exhilarating at once.
When she breaks the kiss, we're both breathing hard. She steps back just far enough to hook her thumbs in her leggings waistband, and my cock strains against my briefs as she slides them down her legs.
No underwear. Of course.
She stands before me naked, and I've stopped breathing. Sunlight bathes her skin in gold, highlighting every curve and plane of her body.
Perfect. All smooth skin and gentle curves, with that inner strength that anchors her even when her thoughts spiral.
"Lie back."
Authority in her voice goes straight to my already hard cock.
I follow, shifting up the bed until my head hits pillows. She follows, crawling over me with feline grace, dark hair creating a curtain around us as she straddles my hips.
Her body settles against mine, warm and soft and real, the heat of her pussy pressed against my cock through thin boxer briefs, melts what's left of my brain.
I grip sheets to keep from flipping us over and taking control.
She notices my white-knuckled grip and smiles. "Having trouble letting go?"
"You could say that." My voice sounds strained even to my own ears.
Her hands move to my chest, fingernails scraping over skin as she rocks her hips against me. The friction is perfect and nowhere near enough.
I'll lose my mind if she doesn't touch me soon.
"Tell me what you want," she whispers, leaning down so her breath warms my ear.
The simple question breaks me.
What do I want? I want her naked and writhing beneath me. I want to bury myself so deep inside her until we can't tell where I end and she begins.
But more than that, I want to give her this…this moment of power, of control.
"You," I manage to say. "Just you."
Her smile lights her entire face, and she kisses me again, pouring all her affection and desire into the connection of our mouths. When she pulls back, her eyes shine with unshed tears.
"I love you," she whispers, words bare.
My heart stops. Stops, then restarts with a rhythm I've never felt before—harder, faster, like it's trying to break free from my chest and find its way to her.
"Vanessa..."
